ONTARIO: Ice show ‘100 Years of Magic’ retraces Disney’s history

Take more than 60 characters and 24 songs from 18 Disney and Pixar movies including “The Lion King,” “Mulan,” “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo” and “The Incredibles,” add an enchanted castle and a large skating rink and you get “Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic.”

The two-act, 90-minute show, hosted by Mickey and Minnie Mouse, arrives in Southern California for two weeks of performances beginning April 16 in Ontario before moving on to Long Beach on April 23.

“It’s a celebration of Walt Disney’s legacy and the timeless and enduring stories and characters he’s left us with,” said performance director Cory Obst. “It reaches all the way back to Snow White, Pinocchio, the older classics, up into modern day properties.”

Among the performers bringing famous characters to life is former Olympic pairs skater Natasha Kuchiki, who appears as Mulan.

“It’s been a while since I’ve actually played in … Southern California,” said the 37-year-old Canoga Park native. “The closest I came … was a few years back in Bakersfield, so it’s always nice coming home.”

Produced by Feld Entertainment, 100 Years of Magic! features choreography by Emmy Award-winning choreographer Sarah Kawahara, costumes designed by Scott Lane (as well as a red gown for Minnie Mouse designed by Bob Mackie) and scenic elements by David Potts.

One of the main spectacles in the show is the 38-foot castle, which Potts designed to “transcend the years and become the show’s unifying theme.” It weighs 20,000 pounds. Also keep an eye out for the 36-foot-long whale from Pinocchio, specially designed to slide across the ice.

“It’s a wonderful variety of high-energy, non-stop family fun entertainment,” Kuchiki said. “(But) what this show has that the other Disney on Ice (shows) don’t have is ‘Electrical Light Parade’ and ‘It’s a Small World.’ Everything lights up and all these floats come out – it’s a big spectacle.”

The electronically controlled floats simulating the famous (or infamous, depending on your view) Disneyland ride are equipped with hydraulics and decorated with 33 dolls. The floats were designed to represent Asia, Europe, Russia and Central America.

Obst, who as the production’s performance director is in charge of overseeing all aspects of the show that are visible to the audience, divulged the complexity of packing up Disney on Ice after each stop. Apparently, it takes 11 semi-trailers.

“It’s a huge undertaking getting this show from city to city, country to country, and it all has to happen seamlessly. Like, it takes us 12 hours to load it in, about three and a half to load it out and the work behind the scenes by the crew is just as diligent and choreographed as the performers out front.”

Traveling along with those semi-trailers are a total of 47 performers hailing from 10 different countries, including Russia, Ukraine, England, France, Slovakia, Brazil, Japan, Australia, USA and Canada. Since joining Feld Entertainment in 1998, Kuchiki has performed in over 600 cities in 32 countries.

“I may have performed this show over a thousand times – but for the audience members it’s they first time they see it,” Kuchiki said. “So when I do a show I always keep that in the back of my mind and I treat it with respect and I do not take it for granted and so every show I go out there as if it’s the first time I’m ever doing the show.”

Both Kuchiki and Obst mentioned the multi-generational appeal in 100 Years of Magic!, pointing out that there are stories and songs that both grandparents and parents can find nostalgia in and enjoy.

“And when those house lights go down and those show lights go up,” said Kuchiki. “The inner child in everyone comes out.”

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